answer:If people were wood stoves, @Jude, some of them could take in a whole lot of timber and never give you much heat back. Maybe just a lot of smoke and they would need frequent poking! In other words, sometimes we can rub ourselves raw trying to evoke responses out of others that befit what we feel we put into the relationship and the more you give, it seems the more you can give. I had that kind of relationship with my birth family. Still do to this day!!! But, the difference is I have found my own center of gravity relationally speaking. I did that by making my chief aim to do what is the right thing by each person with as good of a heart as possible and then “leave it with them.” I gradually got the strength up to be less of a “jellie” and just state the facts as I see them, respond as I feel is best and kindest and walk away free from each encounter. YES! I wish they could respond back with lots of warmth too but sometimes people are just too caught up in their own selfish space to look around and see how much their life and happiness actually depends on others being there for them. I have no idea what your specific topic is but I have found the bottom line is “You can’t please everybody, so you got to please yourself”—and I modify that by saying I am responsible for my own feelings.